Geez, the team finally gets to the ALCS and this is the thanks Macha gets?

Given the history of seeming dysfunction between Macha and Beane, I guess nothing short of a World Series would've saved his job.

Scene: Mark DeRosa's brain. The year is 2005.Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Come on, another position change? One day it's second base, the next day right field, now it's third? Why, I oughta go into Buck's office and throw his talking fish on the floor!Other part of Mark DeRosa's brain: Hold on, other part of the brain. We're making $500,000 this year. Last year we made $725,000. All for playing a damn kids' game. This is, as they say in Brainland, a no-"us"-er. We're not going to complain.Part of Mark DeRosa's brain: You're right, dude. Let's go back to looking at this crazy porn Teixeira gave us!

Of course, this could end up being a replay of last year, when Ken Macha was fired, only to be replaced by...Ken Macha!

However, I think the odds are strongly against that happening again, as this year the circumstances are significantly different. The main reason Macha was let go last year was because his contract had expired and he and Beane had differing views as to how much he should be re-signed for. This year, Macha's being let go with two years still remaining on his present deal. When you consider that fiscal responsibility is the name of the game in "Moneyball" land, $2 million plus is quite a bit of change to shell out to someone to not manage your team for the next two seasons. That tells me that Beane not only has decided that Macha must go, but that Beane (contrary to his previously stated opinions on managers) has his eye on a candidate that he thinks can be quite valuable as manager, and that he's afraid of losing to another organization.

Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you...

Originally posted by Downtown BookieThat tells me that Beane not only has decided that Macha must go, but that Beane (contrary to his previously stated opinions on managers) has his eye on a candidate that he thinks can be quite valuable as manager, and that he's afraid of losing to another organization.

Hmmm. Is it coincidence that the A's announced this firing the same day the Cubs announced that they were passing on Girardi in favor of Pinella? I think not.

smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated(Holds; June 18, 2006)While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.

Originally posted by Downtown BookieThat tells me that Beane not only has decided that Macha must go, but that Beane (contrary to his previously stated opinions on managers) has his eye on a candidate that he thinks can be quite valuable as manager, and that he's afraid of losing to another organization.

Hmmm. Is it coincidence that the A's announced this firing the same day the Cubs announced that they were passing on Girardi in favor of Pinella? I think not.I cannot see someone like Girardi, who tends to be very old-school in his managing and in his opinion that the dugout is the manager's domain, going to work for someone like Beane, who has made very clear that the manager is there to simply do what the organization has decided is the best course of action.

I wouldn't read too much hoopla into this; it's basically what they've been doing on and off for the last couple years anyway, similar to Wednesday night, and it's non-exclusive so the local teams will still have their broadcasts, unlike on Sundays when i...